| For almost three decades, I have been attending | | | | You can keep going to the sessions without having |
| conferences. For twenty years, I went as a | | | | to change clothes and repair your wind-damaged |
| participant, while serving as vice president of three | | | | hairdo. |
| colleges and a medical center. For the last eight | | | | Five: When you attend the conference parties, realize |
| years, I have gone to numerous conferences as a | | | | that potential employers, clients or business partners |
| professional speaker and seminar leader, while I | | | | might observe your behavior. You are not really off |
| continue to attend the National Speakers | | | | duty because you have left your home base. Enjoy |
| Association's conferences as a registrant. | | | | yourself, of course, yet avoid risky behavior that will |
| Here is what I have learned about getting the most | | | | jeopardize your job, family and future. |
| out of a conference, so your investment of time and | | | | Six: Take plenty of business cards, because you may |
| money will bring long range dividends. | | | | need more than you could predict. Certainly when |
| One: Read the conference agenda thoroughly, as | | | | you meet leaders in your field, you will want to help |
| soon as you receive it, and select the sessions that | | | | them remember you. |
| will be most likely to improve your professional | | | | Seven: Tactfully collect as many business cards as |
| performance. Note: Too many attendees shy away | | | | you can, so you can follow up later with post cards, |
| from learning something new, so they settle for the | | | | E-mails or phone calls. Attendees will feel |
| comfort of attending seminars they could almost | | | | complimented that you remember them. |
| teach themselves. This is not the time for needless | | | | Eight: Buy the tapes and audio CDs recorded during |
| repetition, but for moving forward by learning new | | | | the sessions. This is helpful even for the speeches |
| techniques and strategies. | | | | and seminars you attend, as listening again will |
| Two: Ask a professional colleague to become your | | | | reinforce your learning. |
| conference partner, so that each of you can share | | | | Nine: Become an active participant, asking questions |
| what you learn, especially when you describe the | | | | and making comments when the format allows |
| different seminars you attended. | | | | interaction. This way, the topics will take on new life |
| Three: Plan to stay for the entire conference. Ever | | | | for you. Equally as important, your colleagues will |
| notice how many people skip the last half-day? You | | | | begin to notice and remember you. |
| never know what good advice you might be missing | | | | Ten: Meet and thank everyone who served on the |
| by arriving late or leaving early. | | | | conference planning committee. They deserve your |
| Four: Stay at the designated hotel. Sure, you might | | | | compliments. And when you thank them, you will |
| find cheaper ones a few blocks away, but you need | | | | definitely stand out as one of the few who did. |
| to be where you can enlarge your network most | | | | Follow these top ten guidelines, and you will maximize |
| effectively. Also, you will be glad you reside at the | | | | the value of your conference participation. |
| host hotel when bad weather moves in suddenly. | | | | |